Graduate Insanity
Jun. 1st, 2009 12:05 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
azuriteI'm looking at different grad schools. I'm leaning towards programs on or near the East Coast, specifically New York. I wouldn't be against Pennsylvania, Washington, D.C., or similar large, urban areas, but New York's always been where I wanted to go.
Question is, doing what? NYU had that amazing publishing program, but it's certification, not a grad program (e.g. doesn't lead to an MA, MFA, or MS). Not that that's a bad thing, but I'd probably take that to SUPPLEMENT an existing course load. If I could afford it, of course.
Anyway, things that caught my eye at CUNY:
* Communication Sciences (MS)
* Computer & Information Sciences (MA)
* Computer Information Systems (MS)
* Computer Science (MS/MA/PhD)
* English - Creative Writing (MFA)
* Education
--Educational Leadership (MSEd)
--English Education (MA)
--Higher Education Administration (MSEd)
--Language & Literacy (MA)
* Information Systems (MS)
* Journalism
* Library Science
* Media Studies
Some of these are probably just impossible for me, no matter what my "interests" or "skills" are. Like all the Comp Sci and similar courses; they require you already have an undergraduate background in programming and computer engineering. Which uh, yeah, I don't. Most grad programs LET you take undergrad supplemental courses, but for me, it'd be like getting a whole new BA (or BS). Alas, it looks like some of my interests will have to stay just that-- interests, things that I study on the side with books.
The Journalism program at CUNY is INCREDIBLE, and I would have applied to the undergrad program there if I thought I had a way of living out in New York back then. The graduate program is also awesome, complete with specialties (a bit like "beats," since they have foci like "arts/culture" and so on). But I don't want to be a reporter; I want to be an editor, and not necessarily a copy editor or a managing editor or a features editor or whatever at a newspaper or a magazine! Basically, I don't know if I want to be the one writing the content or even coming up with the ideas: I just want to tear it apart (critically analyze it) and make it FABULOUS so that everyone can benefit from whatever the content is, be it an article or a video game strategy guide or a book.
I looked at their requirements, and I could probably fulfill them all, from the GRE to the three letters of recommendation, but the possibility of their Journalism exam petrifies me. The sample exam looked extremely difficult, and not because there was a current events segment or because it was timed...it just didn't seem to mesh with my idea of being an EDITOR, versus being a news reporter or analyst or whatever. Of course, the undergraduate writing proficiency exam here at CSUN scared me too, and I ended up passing it with flying colors. Go figure. I've also never doubted my Journalism degree, no matter HOW hard it got. But a graduate degree is different, right?
So maybe I could go broader: communication or media studies or something. Maybe even stick to my original idea of teaching, with that Language & Literacy English degree?
I just wish I knew a way to figure out what area of study/program is right for me. Searching for the right college could come next, but to not even know what master's or doctorate degree I'd want, or what I want to do with it? That's kind of lame. I don't wan to end up doing something that would stress me out or worse, bore me and end up sucking away all my time and money.
How the heck do I do this?! (I think I'm going to go to the career center after work and before my NSLS E-Board meeting to see if anyone can help.)
Question is, doing what? NYU had that amazing publishing program, but it's certification, not a grad program (e.g. doesn't lead to an MA, MFA, or MS). Not that that's a bad thing, but I'd probably take that to SUPPLEMENT an existing course load. If I could afford it, of course.
Anyway, things that caught my eye at CUNY:
* Communication Sciences (MS)
* Computer & Information Sciences (MA)
* Computer Information Systems (MS)
* Computer Science (MS/MA/PhD)
* English - Creative Writing (MFA)
* Education
--Educational Leadership (MSEd)
--English Education (MA)
--Higher Education Administration (MSEd)
--Language & Literacy (MA)
* Information Systems (MS)
* Journalism
* Library Science
* Media Studies
Some of these are probably just impossible for me, no matter what my "interests" or "skills" are. Like all the Comp Sci and similar courses; they require you already have an undergraduate background in programming and computer engineering. Which uh, yeah, I don't. Most grad programs LET you take undergrad supplemental courses, but for me, it'd be like getting a whole new BA (or BS). Alas, it looks like some of my interests will have to stay just that-- interests, things that I study on the side with books.
The Journalism program at CUNY is INCREDIBLE, and I would have applied to the undergrad program there if I thought I had a way of living out in New York back then. The graduate program is also awesome, complete with specialties (a bit like "beats," since they have foci like "arts/culture" and so on). But I don't want to be a reporter; I want to be an editor, and not necessarily a copy editor or a managing editor or a features editor or whatever at a newspaper or a magazine! Basically, I don't know if I want to be the one writing the content or even coming up with the ideas: I just want to tear it apart (critically analyze it) and make it FABULOUS so that everyone can benefit from whatever the content is, be it an article or a video game strategy guide or a book.
I looked at their requirements, and I could probably fulfill them all, from the GRE to the three letters of recommendation, but the possibility of their Journalism exam petrifies me. The sample exam looked extremely difficult, and not because there was a current events segment or because it was timed...it just didn't seem to mesh with my idea of being an EDITOR, versus being a news reporter or analyst or whatever. Of course, the undergraduate writing proficiency exam here at CSUN scared me too, and I ended up passing it with flying colors. Go figure. I've also never doubted my Journalism degree, no matter HOW hard it got. But a graduate degree is different, right?
So maybe I could go broader: communication or media studies or something. Maybe even stick to my original idea of teaching, with that Language & Literacy English degree?
I just wish I knew a way to figure out what area of study/program is right for me. Searching for the right college could come next, but to not even know what master's or doctorate degree I'd want, or what I want to do with it? That's kind of lame. I don't wan to end up doing something that would stress me out or worse, bore me and end up sucking away all my time and money.
How the heck do I do this?! (I think I'm going to go to the career center after work and before my NSLS E-Board meeting to see if anyone can help.)
